Catalunya Rally

The Catalunya Rally (23-25 March) is the first true asphalt rally of this year's FIA World Rally Championship and the fourth round of the global series. The difficulty of this rally centres on the choice and management of the tyres to ensure the maximum level of efficiency and reliability on surfaces that may appear to be the same throughout the rally but which are, in truth, constantly changing. This is because of different asphalt types on different Legs of the event and also from the risk of changing weather conditions. The situation is further complicated by the fact that, as is now usual, teams can choose just two tread patterns although the number of compounds available within those patterns remains free. In Spain, therefore, Pirelli must provide a PZero tyre range that is versatile in all conditions.

So far this year Pirelli and its team partners have been extremely competitive. In Monte Carlo the Ford Focus RS of Colin McRae held the lead of the rally until being forced to withdraw because of a mechanical problem. Pirelli continued to impress on the snow and ice of Sweden where, had McRae and Richard Burns (Subaru-Pirelli) not left the road early on, either could have won the event. The other Ford, driven by Carlos Sainz, also proved competitive and Pirelli drivers set more fastest times than anyone else thanks to the new studs constructed in Italy. Since Monte Carlo the PZero range of tyres for all surfaces have been evolved and perfected rally after rally and test after test, constantly developing new materials and constructions. In Spain the choices made by Ford and Subaru (detailed later) include the RS cover that Subaru has selected for use on dry roads and which Ford has chosen for also damp conditions, where a specific compound (the same of the RE tyre) will be used. This one fact serves to illustrate the wide range of performance needed to win on the World Rally Championship.

THREE TYRES FOR TWO TEAMS

Pirelli will have around 2000 PZero asphalt tyres available in Spain, chosen through specific experience for these roads following an intense period of testing by both Subaru and Ford in the quest for every tenth of a second on the Catalan roads. As in 2000 on gravel, teams can choose just two tread patterns for asphalt events although the compounds available are not restricted. All of the Pirelli PZero tyres in Spain will be fitted with the EMI anti-deflation system.

NOTE : The higher the compound number, the softer the tyre.

THE PIRELLI TEAM IN SPAIN

Plus other teams not contesting the World Rally Championship

OUR DRIVERS SAID...

CARLOS SAINZ

The Catalunya Rally is a very different event this year with new stages and some of the old ones run the other way to before. The final day will be more important than ever before. Of course it is my home event so I hope to do well. It would be nice to have the kind of close battle we enjoyed on the stages last year but with a slightly different order on the podium!

COLIN McRAE

The Ford Focus on Pirelli tyres feels very different to last year but all the test results have been very good. Catalunya can be affected by changing weather as we saw last year but from what we've seen so far it won't make a big difference to our performance whether it's wet or dry.

RICHARD BURNS

We've had good results from our pre-rally tests so far. We've seen that Pirelli has a good new tyre construction for asphalt and also some exciting new compounds for different conditions. We've still got to get more information about how they work but we're feeling very confident. It should be a good contest - remember last year!

PETTER SOLBERG

We've been working very hard for this event and we've found some good improvements with the Pirelli tyres in the testing so far. The car feels very good but I've never done the event before so it's all quite exciting. The car's set up is good but I must now make sure I get more kilometres of practice.

MARKKO MARTIN

Last year was my first attempt at the rally and with so many new stages again this year I can't be completely confident that I really know the event well enough although it's a rally I enjoy. However, testing has gone well and the Subaru feels really nice to drive on asphalt.

AROUND THE WORLD IN 14 EVENTS

A great start to the season for Pirelli in Monte Carlo with the Ford Focus RS of Colin McRae leading after the second leg before having to retire with a mechanical problem. The PZero range proved to be efficient, competitive and wear resistant on all surfaces including the traditional Monte Carlo asphalt/snow/ice mixture.

The most stage wins but no victory for Pirelli. If it were not for the time early spent off the road, either the Ford of Colin McRae or the Subaru of Burns would most likely have emerged as the winner along with the other Ford of long-time leader Carlos Sainz. Superb performance by the new PZero tyres with their Italian-made studs.

Carlos Sainz drives his Pirelli-fitted Ford very close to victory, leading with just one Stage to go and then being narrowly beaten by Makinen's Mitsubishi. 4^th place (and first points of 2001) for Subaru's ace Burns. Positive performance for the PZero gravel range of tyres, always used in the KM6 option with varying level of hand cuts.

Milan, 16 March 2001